Syrians applying to live in Ghana as refugees is “business as usual” says Ghana Refugee Board programme coordinator Tetteh Padi.Speaking with Pulse.com.gh, Padi said since early January when the Government announced Syrians would be welcome to apply to come to Ghana, the board had received 15 applications, all from Syrians already in the country.The Ghana Refugee Board is the only body here that can grant refugee status, most commonly on an individual basis where people will approach the board, and are interviewed in depth then their story examined by eligibility officers to determine its truthfulness.The board was created in response to Ghana’s Refugee Law, and is made up of various government departments, including the Ministry of Interior, Immigration, Police, Education and Social Protection. UNHCR is also on the board as an observer.There are about 110 Syrian refugees and asylum seekers currently in Ghana, and the announcement opening the doors to more was “not much of a big deal” as Syrians who would come here would do so because they had family here already, Padi said.Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis up until the end of 2015 the board had people applying to come to Ghana as refugees, he added. Those 15 who applied after the Government announcement were already in the country, whereas Padi said those who applied before then would have done so from outside Ghana. The 15 are currently being processed and until they receive refugee status, they are considered asylum seekers.Those here already are part of the 21, 000 refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana who have come from all over the world.The board found for the Syrian applicants already here, it was likely they came in on tourist visas, while some could have been sponsored to come in by family or organisations.“For all those who have come, they have some contacts here, either family or people from Syria they know.”Padi said for the majority of the Syrians who have applied, an applicant's family here already will contact the board and tell them the family will assist them and the board does not need to help them, just to recognise and register them as a refugee.“It’s business as usual, it is likely we will still continue to have Syrians come in but we don’t expect the rate at which they are coming to change much. Once they come in we will assist them.”He believed refugees were “pretty comfortable” in Ghana. They can access the same services Ghana nationals can.“Ghana has always hosted refugees...we had all these freedom fighters during the independence struggle era who came to Ghana and couldn’t stay in their countries but were accepted in Ghana. "By nature as a people we welcome persons who are in need of that sort of assistance.”Syrian Abdul-Ghandi Badenjki is a registered refugee who now lives in Ghana. He initially came to Ghana in 2011 with his family, and the intention of just staying a short while, but soon realised he could not return to Syria. He said he was grateful to the Government of Ghana for accepting him and other Syrians but he missed home and hoped to be able to one day return.He met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Hanna Tetteh earlier this month, and said the Minister told him about the Government’s concerns about the Syrian crisis stating it wanted to help.In a letter to Badenjki from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, signed by the chief director AMB. Leslie K. Christian, written following the meeting, it was stated the Government plans to bring in Syrian refugees to unite them with family already here. Badenjki was asked to find the number of Syrians here and details on their families and those who would want to come to Ghana.The letter said the Government would support the refugees to resettle, live and work legally for as long as they choose.
ADVERTISEMENT
Govt allowing Syrians to come to Ghana "business as usual"
There are about 110 Syrian refugees and asylum seekers currently in Ghana, and the Government's announcement this month that it is open to taking more is “not much of a big deal” the Ghana Refugee Board programme coordinator says.
___4612092___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___4612092___2016___1___27___11___5F3A9033_1
Recommended articles
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
Train accident photo posted on my social media pages is a photoshop - Peter Amewu
Court jails truck driver 6 months for causing Ghana's brand-new train accident
609 Ghanaians died in first 3 months of 2024 through road crashes - NRSA reveals
Joseph Addo files nomination to contest as NPP Parliamentary aspirant for La Dadekotopon
Dumsor: ECG board members reject PURC GH¢5.8m fine
Woman who claims to have been taken to another world by dwarfs shares experience
Organised Labour threatens to strike May 2 over Tier-2 pension arrears
Nana Addo assures he will prioritize the welfare of cocoa farmers
